Fixing clamp for joining wooden building components

ABSTRACT

A fixing bracket is described for joining wooden building components to each other and to a substrate, particularly of the kind used for joining boards used to cover balconies and decks outdoors. It is essential that the fixing bracket is a double angle consisting of two L-sections ( 2, 2 ′), having a double web ( 5 ) consisting of two section legs ( 3, 3 ′), whereby a fixing hole ( 9, 9 ′) is provided in the angle flanges ( 8, 8 ′). In an advantageous manner, the tongue-shaped spikes ( 6, 6 ′) are arranged near the upper edge of the web and are cut directly out of the web and bent out perpendicularly from the web.

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The invention relates to a fixing bracket for joining woodenbuilding components to each other and to a substrate, particularly forjoining boards used to cover balconies and decks outdoors, said brackethaving a vertical web, at least one tongue-shaped pointed spikeprojecting horizontally at the top to both sides of the web, and angleflanges projecting perpendicularly/horizontally at the bottom to bothsides of the web, according to the generic part of claim 1.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Joining elements are generally known for wooden components forpurposes of affixing two parallel boards onto a substrate to be usedoutdoors in such a way that, first of all, there is an air gap and aspace for the wood to expand and contract between the boards and thatsecondly, there is likewise an air gap—for air circulation and as ameasure against rotting—between the substrate and the boards. Thus, itis common practice to place a spacer batten between the boards in thelengthwise direction and to lay narrow battens underneath the boards asthe substrate. The boards are then affixed by means of screws with whichthe boards are screwed to the substrate, vertically all the way throughthe support battens. The spacer battens are subsequently removed. Asidefrom the fact that the screws in the pierced boards are visible from thetop, the wood surface is often broken open, so that cracks andprotruding splinters are formed. Moisture penetrates via the holes anddamages the wood. Children walking barefoot on the wood can easily hurtthemselves and weathering causes discoloration around the holes, therebyeven further accentuating the already unaesthetic appearance of thescrews. Finally, in the case of long boards, the wood becomes enlargedaround the screws if the wood and the substrate have differentcoefficients of linear expansion. In spite of this, it is a method thatis still frequently employed since it is the only one that ensuressufficient ventilation space and thus good air circulation, whileallowing the use of long spikes. Here, a joint spacing and groundspacing of at least about 5 mm are commonly used.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 2,116,737 describes a joining system by means ofwhich boards provided with a tongue and groove are affixed to each otherand to a substrate. Here, a fixing bracket is used whose vertical webhas three claw-like spikes that protrude perpendicularly at the top andthat penetrate into the surfaces of the boards. At the bottom of theweb, there are two perpendicularly bent angle flanges, each about halfas long as the web, that are bent in opposite directions (left/right).For purposes of maintaining the spacing and affixing the boards to thesubstrate, there is a U-shaped rail that can be screwed onto thesubstrate and that secures the bracket via lateral web shoulders,whereby the boards lie on the legs of the rail. Thus, there is no directcontact of the bracket with the surface to be joined, and during theassembly, the components have to be held slanted in order to thenachieve a wedging under tension, whereby it is not possible tostraighten the component with a simple tool, for example, with a hammer.Moreover, the relatively short claws are wide and pointed in design,thus giving rise, on the one hand, to a dynamic pressure, and on theother hand, a wedge effect in the wood, which can lead to crackformation. Furthermore, the claws are formed as a continuation of thetop of the web, as a result of which a metal strip of correspondinglygreater length has to be used. Finally, these prior-art brackets do notleave any space between the boards, as a result of which no aircirculation is possible and no shrinkage is taken into consideration, sothat these brackets are not suitable for outdoor use.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 2,066,813 describes a joining element that isdesigned in a similar manner to the previously described bracket andthat, owing to its longer angle flanges, has support surfaces that allowsimpler insertion of the panels and that also have a fixing hole. Thesejoining brackets are configured for fastening wall paneling such asfiberboard and cork panels, and they have blade-like claw spikes thatare not very sturdy and that are not suitable for wood. Spacers are notnecessary, in fact, they are undesirable, and this is why these bracketscannot be used outdoors.

[0005] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 441,227 describes a joining element thatcan be used to make corner joints for crates. The bracket here is madeof a metal strip in which, as the vertical web, a tongue-shaped anglepiece is cut out of the strip and bent upwards perpendicularly.Moreover, in the plate and in the web, there are three corner tonguesshaped like spikes that are driven into the boards that are to bejoined. These prior-art brackets are not suitable to create a connectionwhose front surface is not visible from the outside.

TECHNICAL OBJECTIVE

[0006] The objective of the invention is to provide a fixing bracket ofthe type described above that constitutes an inexpensive joining elementthat is optimally suited for securely laying wooden boards outdoors withappropriate ventilation spacing and that can withstand the high pressingresistance of hardwood and Thermowood, without causing the wood to crackor splinter.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION AS WELL AS OF ITS ADVANTAGES

[0007] This objective is achieved by a fixing bracket of the typedescribed above in that the fixing bracket is a double angle consistingof two L-sections, the web is a double web consisting of two sectionlegs, and at least one fixing hole is provided in at least one of theangle flanges. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0008] Accordingly, the fixing bracket is a double angle consisting oftwo L-sections and it has an essentially upside-down or prone T-crosssection. The fact that the web has a double wall, however, also entailsthe advantage that the web has increased strength and that the spike ofthe one wall part is supported by the other wall part, especially whenthe brackets or spikes are being driven in. Here, the web is a doubleweb made up of two section legs, that is to say, it is double-walled, sothat the spacing between the boards is at least two times the thicknessof the metal. Moreover, in at least one of the two angle flanges, thereis at least one fixing hole through which the brackets—and thus theboards—can be affixed to the substrate.

[0009] Of course, the section legs that form the double web canthemselves also be doubled legs in that, during the bending of the metalblank to form the L-section, each of the legs that serves as the doubleweb wall during the installation of the sections is doubled byappropriately bending a strip of material so that then, in total, forexample, a quadruple web can be obtained. The reinforcement or spacerwall that is bent inwards can fill the entire length and height of theweb. However, it can also consist of at least a short lengthwise strip,preferably on the upper one-third of the web, or of several parallelcrosswise webs that are preferably to be provided at the height or inthe zone of the spike of the other section, in order to optimallywithstand the counter-pressure when the spike is driven in.

[0010] It is advantageous if the bracket double angle consists of twoL-shaped angle sections that are each joined together with a section leglying flat against each other to form a T-section by means of welding,riveting or joining techniques. In this manner, L-shaped angle ironsthat have been bent from appropriate metal strips can be joined in asimple manner to form a double angle plate, whereby it is alsoconceivable to use commercially available sections for this.

[0011] It is especially advantageous if the double angle bracket is madefrom a continuous metal strip by means of bending techniques, that is tosay, if it is made from one piece. The double web bent in the middle ofthe metal plate does not require any further joining measures.

[0012] Moreover, it is advantageous if the tongue-shaped spikes arearranged near the upper end of the web and are cut directly out of theweb material and bent out perpendicularly so that no additional materialwidth needs to be provided for cutting and shaping the claw-shapedspikes, as is the case with the prior-art brackets. At the same time,the spikes that are bent out of the double web walls can be supported bythe wall situated behind each of them and they can be driven into thewood via said wall.

[0013] The fixing spikes arranged at both sides of the double web areadvantageously configured and arranged in such a way that preferablyonly one spike is provided for each side of the web, and said spike canbe centered relative to the lengthwise extension of the web orpositioned off-center in the lengthwise direction, for example, in eachcase, at the beginning of the outer one-fourth of the web. Here, the twospikes that project freely perpendicularly but in opposite directionsfrom the two web surfaces and also the brackets in their entirety, aswill be explained further below, are offset laterally symmetricalrelative to a symmetry point located in the middle of the web, that isto say, the bracket sides are each identical when rotated by 180°.Thanks to this point symmetry, the brackets do not have to be speciallyoriented during the installation work so that automation of theinstallation could conceivably be carried out, in that the brackets canbe fed automatically and installed with hammering or pneumatic drivingequipment.

[0014] According to the invention, the spikes can be bent out of thedouble web horizontally or vertically, i.e. parallel or perpendicularrelative to the angle flanges. In the case of brackets with a lower web,it will be more advantageous to bend the spikes out horizontally, thatis to say, parallel—preferably from the inside to the outside. In thecase of higher webs, that is to say, webs whose height is greater thanthe spike length, the spikes can advantageously be stamped out in thevertical direction, namely, upwards. Moreover, if the fixing spike isparticularly advantageously also bent open downwards so as to begutter-shaped or arch-shaped, also at the root of the spike and taperingtowards the tip with a smaller radius at the tip, then the shape of thespike is extremely similar to the upper part of the beak of a bird.Thus, the spike is copied from nature so to speak and is extremelyresistant to bending along its entire length. It is also especiallyadvantageous if there is a bulge in the form of beads at the upper, thatis to say, outer part of the double web, running on both sides in thelengthwise directions of the web, said beads together forming a doublebead running in the lengthwise direction and thus forming a web head.The spikes protrude from the side surfaces of this web head, which ishollow on the inside. In this manner, a greater width of the web andconsequently a greater spacing can be attained between the boards. Inthis manner, it can be achieved that, with a material thickness of onlyapproximately 1.5 mm, the width of the web head is 5 mm or considerablymore, depending on the configuration of the beads. Naturally, thisembodiment is possible with the brackets that are welded in two piecesas well as with the brackets that are shaped in one piece.

[0015] The web that bears the web head at its top can have a closed webfoot, i.e. the two web metal pieces lie tightly against each other.However, the web foot can also be configured so as to be open, wherebythe metal pieces are at a distance from each other with an opening gapof at least 0.5 mm. In addition to the good air circulation achieved inthis manner, also through the web, the open web foot imparts an optimalelasticity to the bracket, which has a very positive effect in the caseof shrinking or swelling processes in the wood, since in this case, thebracket expands and contracts along with the wood so to speak, in otherwords, it can be elastically compressed or pulled apart.

[0016] Since problems could arise as a result of the presence of thehollow web head and of the open web foot when these crosswise-elasticbrackets are driven in, it is advantageous if, approximately at thelevel of the spike, there is an opening in the opposite wall of the webhead through which the driving or counter-pressure tool can be inserted.Thus, through this opening, it is possible to drive or exertcounter-pressure onto the inside of the wall from which the spikeprojects.

[0017] It is also advantageous if the widths of the angle flanges aresubstantially greater than the spike length, preferably twice as largeor wide, so that the angle flanges extend horizontally a great dealbelow the spikes. Aside from the resultant good stability of the bracketand the good pressure absorption when the board is subject to a load,the board can be laid onto the free end of the angle flange situatedbehind the spike, so that said end forms a support as well as a slidingramp for the board.

[0018] The angle flanges here are the same length as the double web,since the bracket is made in its entirety by bending a rectangular metalstrip. However, the angle flanges can also be only half the length ofthe double web, whereby the two half flanges should be arranged so as tobe offset, that is to say, to alternately project away from the web.Primarily, these half flanges entail the advantage of saving material,and it is obvious that, in order to provide better access to the flangescrew hole, the spikes are each situated on the other half of the web.

[0019] It is also especially advantageous if, on each of the angleflanges, there is at least one elevation extending upwards in thedirection of the spikes in the form of a bead that runs in the directionof the widthwise extension and that has an arched or roof-like crosssection. These elevations serve primarily to raise the support surfaceof the angle flanges since the boards rest on the surface of thesebeads. The spacing of the boards relative to the substrate can also beinfluenced as a function of the height of these spacer beads or supportbeads, and an optimal air circulation can be achieved. Here, anespecially good and secure support of the boards on the angle flangescan be achieved when two beads are provided parallel in the widthwiseextension, each adjacent to the outer side edge of the angle flanges. Inthis manner, the possibility exists to situate the fixing hole in themiddle between the two beads.

[0020] The hole for the fixing screw is advantageously shaped in such away that the countersinking angle in the angle flange is greater thanthe angle of the screw head. As a result, when the board expands orshrinks, the screw head is prevented from tilting and possibly frombreaking off. Moreover, it is advantageous if the fixing holes areconfigured as oblong holes that run crosswise, since this allowsweather-induced expanding and contracting of the wood (swelling orshrinking) without being hindered by the screws.

[0021] An advantageous safeguard against torsional movement is achievedaccording to the invention in that the angle flanges create a positivefit with the substrate, namely, in that at least one claw-shaped bladestrip that projects downwards has been shaped into or bent out of theangle flanges. These blade strips can be provided on both side edges ofthe angle flanges, at least on the front face or side end, and over alength of at least one-sixth the width of the flange. When the fixingscrews are tightened, these blade strips that project downwards from theangle flanges are pushed into the wood. If the blade strip does notcompletely penetrate into the wood on the flange side opposite from thescrew, e.g. if the wood is very hard, then it is sufficient to hammer itor to step on it from above in order to effectuate the positive fitthere as well. For purposes of achieving an especially good grip, therecan also be a U-shaped rectangular recess that has a depth of about ¼the flange width and that is centered relative to the lengthwiseextension of the angle flanges, whereby the side edges running in thewidthwise extension of the flange are bent out downwards in the form ofclaw-shaped blade strips.

[0022] It is also advantageous if, on the lengthwise sides of the angleflanges, there are ramp-like sliding surfaces that also encompass theoptionally present corresponding ends of the beads. Through the shapingof a ramp-like sliding surface on the ends of the angle flanges,parallel to the web, the heavy boards can easily be slid onto the doubleangle plate in order to be subsequently installed.

[0023] It is also advantageous if the two L-sections that form thebracket are independent individual sections that are joined or that canbe joined to each other in such a way that they allow at least a slightcrosswise shifting of the two sections relative to each other, but notin the lengthwise direction. In this manner, the possibility existsthat, in the installed state, the two sections each move together withthe board into which they have been driven, that is to say, they shiftalong with the crosswise shrinking or swelling movements of the boards.However, at the same time, they are joined together by at least onecrosswise guide element, specifically in such a way that they can shiftcrosswise but not lengthwise and not heightwise. Furthermore, if thereare also oblong holes extending crosswise and provided in the angleflanges as fixing holes, then an optimal cooperation between thebrackets and the boards is ensured.

[0024] As crosswise guide elements, there are guide tongues that are cutperpendicularly out of the section webs, that are, at the same time,counter-aligned with the angle flanges, and that can be rectangular,while as guide openings that cooperate with said guide tongues, thereare guide segments or guide beads that are worked at the bottoms of thewebs and that open crosswise or extend into the angle flanges.

[0025] The guide beads here can, at the same time, advantageously be theabove-mentioned spacer beads that are coordinated with the tonguedimensions in a version that is open towards the inside of the web andcorrespondingly adapted, concurrently forming a crosswise tunnel forpurposes of optimal circulation. Here, too, in a practical oradvantageous manner, a mid-point symmetry of the bracket is to becreated or maintained, that is to say, for example, the spikes shouldeach be centered and in alignment with each other, and the guideelements should be arranged correspondingly off-center so as to createbracket sections that are identical. In this way, after pivoting orrepositioning the bracket by 180°, there are always bracket sides thatare configured identically and, in general, there is no need to figureout which is the left-hand side or right-hand side of the bracket inorder to join it correctly to the board because both sides arepreferably identical.

[0026] Of course, a centered arrangement of the guide elements is alsopossible and so is an off-centered arrangement of the spikes. However,this calls for different section parts of a bracket since then, forexample, one section part would have the centered tongue and the otherwould have the centered guide cutout.

[0027] Finally, on the upper support surfaces of the angle flanges ortheir guide and/or support beads, there can be at least one, preferablymid-point symmetrical, notch or bulge in the form of a cleat rising at aslant in the direction of the vertical web. These notches or bulgesserve to secure the spike from being pulled out of the boards. Thesecleat-like protuberances should be configured in such a way that theircentered tops rise in the direction of the web or run parallel to theangle flange or bead surface, while the bottoms or side cleat cut edgesor cut surfaces, which run altogether at a slant, cause the cleats towiden conically towards the web.

[0028] Finally, it should still be pointed out that the inventionresolves contradictory circumstances or objectives, namely, thecontradiction between inexpensive manufacturing (=thin material), largespacing (=thick material), high spike strength (=thick and widematerial) and no splinters (=long and thin spikes), and all of this isachieved by the special shaping measures for the bracket elements. Insummary, these are the following:

[0029] shaping a double angle with a double web out of a thin metalstrip,

[0030] embossing of beads in order to form spacers, both on the web (webhead/board spacing) as well as on the angle flanges (support spacing),optionally with an open web foot,

[0031] special geometry of the spikes, that is to say, the length isabout twice the board spacing, with a gutter-like crosswise curvature, aconical-spatial cut edge, cut horizontally or vertically out of the webwall,

[0032] blade strips protruding from the bottom of the angle flanges,

[0033] fixing holes with a countersinking angle that is greater than thescrew head angle, optionally as crosswise oblong holes,

[0034] shaping of beveled surfaces at the ends of the angle flanges as aramp-like sliding aid for the boards,

[0035] angle flange width about twice as large as the spike length,

[0036] complete separation of the double angle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS IN WHICH THE FOLLOWING IS SHOWN

[0037]FIG. 1: a perspective view of a fixing bracket in a version withwelded-together L-sections and horizontally cut-out spikes,

[0038]FIG. 2: a top view of the bracket according to FIG. 1, in aversion with oblong fixing holes,

[0039]FIG. 3: a schematic view of several fixing brackets in the mountedstate with boards on a substrate,

[0040]FIG. 4: a perspective view of a fixing bracket in a version with afolded double web and vertically cut-out spikes,

[0041]FIG. 5: a view similar to that in FIG. 4, only with alternatelyarranged half angle flanges,

[0042]FIG. 6: a top view of a metal blank for the fixing bracketaccording to FIG. 5,

[0043]FIG. 7: a perspective view of a fixing bracket in a version withspacer beads,

[0044]FIG. 8: a top view onto a spike along the arrow VIII of FIG. 7,

[0045]FIG. 9: a top view similar to that of FIG. 9, but with arounded-off flank shape,

[0046]FIG. 10: an axial section X-X of FIG. 8 through the spike,

[0047]FIG. 11: a side view along arrow XI of FIG. 9,

[0048]FIG. 12: a section through the spike tip along lines XII-XII ofFIG. 8,

[0049]FIG. 13: a view of the spike from the front along arrow XIII ofFIG. 7,

[0050]FIG. 14: a section near the spike root along lines XIV-XIV of FIG.8,

[0051]FIG. 15: a section along lines XV-XV of FIG. 7, representing thefixing hole countersinking,

[0052]FIG. 16: a section along lines XVI-XVI of FIG. 7 through a supportbead with a bevel,

[0053]FIG. 17: a section along lines XVII-XVII of FIG. 7, showing thearrangement of the blade strip on one face of the angle flange,

[0054]FIG. 18: a section XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 7, representing thecentered shaping of blade edges,

[0055]FIG. 19: a cross section through a bracket in a version similar tothat of FIG. 7, but with an open web foot and a counter-pressure tool,

[0056]FIG. 20: a section through a version similar to that of FIG. 19,with a wide, open web and a narrow counter-pressure or driving tool,

[0057]FIG. 21: a perspective view of the bracket in the fifth version,with two section parts that can be slid crosswise, in the slid-togetherstate,

[0058]FIG. 22: a view like in FIG. 21, with the sections pulled apart,and

[0059]FIG. 23: a section XXIII-XXIII through the bracket according toFIG. 21, with installed boards.

WAYS TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION

[0060] The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a fixing bracket 1 consistingof two L-sections 2, 2′, in which the two sections are joined with theirvertical legs 3, 3′ lying against each other via a weld seam 4 to form aT-section. Here, the welded vertical legs 3, 3′ form a vertical web 5that is especially sturdy due to the double material thickness. Eachsecond leg of the L-sections 2, 2′ is in alignment with the other andthey each form angle flanges 8, 8′ that project horizontally away fromthe web 5 and via which the bracket rests on a substrate (not shownhere). In each of these angle flanges 8, 8′, there is a fixing hole 9,9′ for a fixing screw with a conical countersunk head (not shown here).A perpendicularly oriented spike 6 or 6′ is cut horizontally out of eachleg of the vertical web and the backs 16 of these spikes are eachoriented perpendicular away from the web and, at the same time, parallelto the angle flanges 8, 8′. Furthermore, it can be seen that the lengthof the spikes 6, 6′ is only about half as much as the width of the angleflanges 8, 8′. Moreover, it can be seen that the spikes 6, 6′ are shapedin such a way that the material doubling, which forms the web 5, is notbroken open anywhere on either side. The opening shape for bending outthe spikes is such that the spikes can be driven back into this shape,e.g. by being hammered back in using a hammer. This is advantageous forthe installation of the first and last board since this avoids the riskof injury due to protruding spikes.

[0061] The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is essentially the same embodimentas in FIG. 1, except that the spikes 6 and 6′ are arranged mirror-imagewith respect to the web and, instead of the two alternately arrangedfixing holes 9, 9′, there are now two fixing holes 9, 9′ for each angleflange 8, 8′, and they are configured as oblong holes that runcrosswise, as a result of which the boards can expand and contract inthe crosswise direction relative to the substrate. The brackets aremounted in such a way that, during average weather conditions, thescrews come to lie in the middle of the oblong holes. Moreover, thebracket is designed in such a way that it is configuredpoint-symmetrically to the symmetry point 10 that is centered relativeto the web and, at the same time, relative to the entire web, as aresult of which the bracket looks exactly the same when it is rotated by180°.

[0062]FIG. 3 shows three fixing brackets 1 with installed boards 11. Inthis representation, the first bracket from right to left was driveninto the left-hand board 11, whereby first of all, the left-hand angleflange 8 served as the support surface, as the spacer and as the guidesurface. The affixing of the board 11 starts at the moment when thespike 6 penetrates the board and it ends when the board reaches the web5 or when the web 5 comes to lie against the board. Then the bracket isscrewed by means of the screw 12 into the substrate 13. It goes withoutsaying that several brackets are mounted and affixed at intervals ofabout 50 cm along the boards. Here, however, we will always speak ofonly one bracket. Now the next board is put into place from the right,whereby the right-hand angle flange 8′ first serves as the supportsurface, guide surface and spacing plate, and the positive fit startswith the penetration of the metal spike 6′. This process ends once againwhen the second board 11 reaches the web 5, that is to say, when itcomes to lie against it. The assembly now continues in that theleft-hand angle flange of the next bracket is slid under the right-handside of the middle board and the left-hand spike is driven in. This ithow it continues until the last board, which then constitutes the endpiece.

[0063]FIG. 4 shows a fixing bracket 15 that, at first glance, lookssimilar to the bracket 1 of FIG. 1. The difference can be seenespecially in the fact that the bracket 15 was not formed out of twowelded-together angles but rather of a continuous metal strip to form aT-section. Moreover, the spikes 6, 7, 7′ were not cut out horizontallybut rather vertically, that is to say, they were cut out and bentupwards, they have a straight spike back 16 or spike ridge and are bentopen downwards in a gutter-like manner and, thanks to this crosswisecurvature, they acquire a great stiffness so that, in spite of the greatlength of the spikes, they can be driven into hard wood. Moreover, theyhave conical-spatial cut edges 17 or cut surfaces 17′ that ensure thatthe wood does not split open at the edge of the spike. The precise shapeof the spike will be described in greater detail below in conjunctionwith further drawing figures.

[0064]FIG. 5 shows a fixing bracket 18 that is fundamentally shaped inthe same manner as the bracket 15 of FIG. 4, except that now the angleflanges 8, 8′ are not present over the full length but rather they areonly half the length and, as in all of the embodiments, said angleflanges are arranged on the bracket mid-point-symmetrically, that is tosay, offset by half of their length.

[0065]FIG. 6 shows a top view of a metal blank 19 from which the bracket18 of FIG. 5 is produced by means of appropriate bending or folding. Itcan be seen that the alternately projecting angle flanges 8, 8′ havinghalf the length account for a material savings during the cutting from ametal strip of a certain length from which several bracket blanks arecut out in the lengthwise direction of the strip, and in this process,the flange of one blank fits precisely into the shape of the cutout ofthe flange of the next blank.

[0066] The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is a fixing bracket 20 (fourthembodiment) that represents a more complex form of the bracket 15 ofFIG. 4. In comparison to the latter, on the upper part of the web 5,there are crosswise bulging beads 21 and 22 which together form a hollowweb head 23. At the lower end of the web, the two flat metal parts areconfigured so as to lie flat on each other without a gap, forming agap-free web foot 24. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that thespikes 7, 7′ are cut vertically out of the web walls in such a way thatthey project perpendicularly from the web foot 24 and, at the same time,parallel to the angle flanges 8, 8′, so that the spike feet 25 aresituated in the web head flanks/beads.

[0067] Moreover, on the front face of the bracket 20, it can be seenthat, with a relatively small metal thickness 27 of about 1.5 mm, thewidth 26 of the web head can be at least 5 mm, that is to say, the idealminimum distance between the boards. Two support and spacer beads 28having a U-shaped cross section are worked on the angle flanges 8, 8′.The two support beads 28 run parallel to each other and are at such adistance from each other that a fixing hole 9 is created in the middlebetween them. Under the support bead 28, there are channels 29 by meansof which the ventilation of the substrate is optimized. Finally, on eachouter end surface of the angle flanges 8, 8′, there are blade strips 30that are formed by bending down these edge zones and that grip thesubstrate in the installed state, as can be seen especially in FIG. 17.On the outer lengthwise edges of the angle flanges 8, 8′, in the middle,there is also a rectangular recess 31, 31′ that has blade strips 30 thatrun in the widthwise extension and that are formed by appropriatelycutting and pressing the sheet metal material downwards, as can be seenespecially in FIG. 18.

[0068]FIG. 7 also shows that, on the two lengthwise edges of the angleflanges 8, 8′, there are ramp-like sliding surfaces 34 that areillustrated more precisely in FIGS. 15 and 16.

[0069] In a top view, FIG. 8 shows the shape of a spike 7 with thecentered straight back 16, the lateral cut edges 17 and cut surfaces 17′that first run parallel to each other at the height of the spike foot25, then taper the spike conically and finally end in a rounded-off tip33.

[0070] A similar configuration is also found in the spike 7 shown inFIG. 9, except that here, the spike flanks 17′ or the cut edges 17 arenot pointed in the form of an angled line but rather as a relativelyuniform sweeping curve.

[0071]FIG. 10 shows that the spike 7 is vertically bent out of thevertical wall 3′ of a double web 5 from the bottom towards the top andthat it assumes a precisely perpendicular position so that the spikeback 16 has a straight, perpendicular position relative to the web wall3. It can also be seen that the bottom of the cut surface or cut flank17′ is drawn downwards in the direction of the wall, as a result ofwhich a greater width is created in the zone of the spike foot,resulting in a high overall stiffness of the spike, which can also beseen in FIG. 11, whereby here, the arched widening of the spike, drawndownwards, can also be recognized there.

[0072]FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 show the spike 7 in various sections or viewsand in each case, the curved, gutter-like shape—open towards thebottom—can be seen, with the upper straight spike back 16, the lateralconically, i.e. sharply tapered cut edges 17 or cut surfaces 17′ and thecentered spike tip 33. Through the enlargement of the angle a in FIG. 12into the angle β in FIG. 14, and the twisting of the cut surfaces 17′from s at the spike tip to s′ at the spike foot, as well as the shiftingof the cut surfaces from the spike backs by the quantity “x” (FIG. 14),twisted surfaces are formed from the metal edges or metal flanks.

[0073]FIG. 15 shows that the fixing holes 9 in the angle flanges 8 areconfigured in such a way that their countersinking angle is greater thanthe screw head angle of the countersunk screw 12, as a result of which,when the board expands or contracts due to weather, the screw head isprevented from tilting and breaking off.

[0074]FIG. 16 shows that, by means of the beads 28, an especially highsupport surface for the boards is achieved on the angle flanges 8, 8′,that there is a ventilation channel 29 and that, thanks to the ramp-likesliding surfaces 34, the boards can be much more easily slid onto theflange support surfaces or support beads.

[0075]FIG. 17 shows that, on an angle flange side which is provided witha bead 28 on one side that forms a ventilation channel 29 underneath it,the outside or end surface is pressed downwards or deformed in such away that there is a blade strip 30 whose cross section is claw-like andthat works its way into the substrate in response to sufficient verticalpressure.

[0076]FIG. 18 shows the recess 31 in the angle flanges 8, 8′ whosecrosswise edges are pressed downwards in such a way that here, too,blade strips 30 are formed that likewise work their way into thesubstrate in a claw-like manner.

[0077]FIG. 19 shows a cross section of a bracket 35 (fifth embodiment),whereby this bracket is configured essentially like the bracket 20according to FIG. 7, except that here the web foot 24 is open and thespikes 7, 7′ are arranged in the middle of the web, that is to say, inalignment with each other. The web foot opening 36 is at leastapproximately 0.5 mm so that this opening, together with the hollowspace of the web head 23, forms a ventilation channel, as a result ofwhich the boards and the board substrate can be optimally ventilated.Since the hollow web head and the opening 36 also impart the bracketwith a crosswise elasticity, which means that the bracket cannot beoptimally driven into a board, there is an opening 37 provided on theopposite wall 14 across from the driving spike 7. The mandrel of adriving tool 38 penetrates through this opening 37 in such a way thatthe end face of the tool rests against or exerts counter-pressure on therear of the wall from which the spike 7 protrudes that has to be driven,and said tool transmits the driving force directly via the wall to thespike 7. It can be seen that, when both spikes 7, 7′ are centered, thatis to say, in alignment with each other, on the one hand, the tool 38goes underneath the spike 7′ via the mandrel 39 and on the other hand,said tool 38 has a recess 40 on its end face into which the spike 7′projects.

[0078] Furthermore, FIG. 20 shows a version that is similar to that ofFIG. 19, except that here the web 5 is very open, in other words, it hasa large width 26 of the web head and a large web foot opening 36. Sincewith the embodiment shown here, the spikes 7, 7′ are not centered so asto be in alignment, but rather they are in a version that is staggeredin the lengthwise direction as described and shown above (pointsymmetry), the opening 37 can also be made at the same height as thespike 7 so that the driving tool 38 with its mandrel 39 acts preciselyon the spike foot 25 of the spike 7 so as to support it or drive it in.

[0079]FIG. 21, as the fifth embodiment of the invention, shows a fixingbracket 42 that—like the bracket embodiments described above—is made upof two L-sections and that likewise has a mid-point symmetry so thathere, too, installation work can start at the left side or at the rightside. The special feature of this embodiment is that the two L-sectionsare no longer permanently attached to each other but rather are merelyloose individual sections that are slid together in pairs so as tocooperate by means of a positive fit, thus forming a bracket unit. Thetwo identical bracket sections 2, 2′ each have a spike 7, 7′ in themiddle of the vertical legs 3, 3′, which form the double web 5 in theinstalled state shown in FIG. 21, and said spikes 7, 7′ are thusarranged in the cross-wise direction in alignment with each other; theirconfiguration was already described in depth above. Of course, here,too, in the section legs 3, 3′ that form the web walls, there can be alengthwise bead that forms a web head for purposes of achieving awidened configuration of the double web 5 in the installed state. It canbe seen that support beads 28, 28′ and guide beads 43, 43′ are providedin the angle flanges 8, 8′. In the guide beads, which are open at leastin the flange thickness towards the inside of the legs, a guide tongue44, 44′ extends horizontally so as to be able to shift crosswise, as canalso be seen more clearly in FIG. 23. The guide tongues are formed bycutting out and bending by 90° until they are in alignment with each ofthe angle flanges. Each of the flanges 8, 8′ also has a fixing hole 9,9′ that can also be configured as a crosswise oblong hole. Furthermore,on each of the beads 28 and 43, there is a vertically protruding notchor bulge 47, 47′ that serves to increase the pull-out resistance of theboards in the installed state. The tops of the notches are configured soas to rise at a slant in the direction of the vertical legs 3, 3′;however, they can also be configured so as to be parallel to the supportsurface and can widen conically in the direction of the vertical legs.On each angle section, there are two notches, namely, in a symmetricalarrangement with respect to the spikes 7, 7′.

[0080]FIG. 22 shows the fixing bracket 42 from FIG. 21, but with theangle sections 2, 2′ that form the bracket in the state where they areslid apart in the crosswise direction. Here, one can particularlyclearly see the shaping of the guide tongues 44, 44′ which has beencarried out by means of cutting out and bending out in the directionopposite to the appertaining angle flanges 8, 8′. As the second guideelements that cooperate with the guide tongues, there are no guide beadsas is the case in FIG. 21 but rather simple rectangular guide cutouts45, 45′. All in all, it can be seen that the two angle sections 2, 2′are identical, which entails major advantages during the production aswell as during the installation. Moreover, in each of the tongues 44,44′, there is a fixing hole 46, 46′ that also allows the use of theangle sections as beginning pieces and as end pieces. In the angleflanges 8, 8′, there are also notches 47, 47′, namely, essentiallycentered under the spike 7, 7′.

[0081] Finally, FIG. 23 shows brackets 42 with boards 11, 11′ positionedand installed on a substrate 13. It can be seen how the boards 11, 11′lie on the beads 43 and 28 with the driven-in spikes 7, 7′, and thenotches 47, 47′ are pressed into the bottom of the board. Here, theguide tongue 44 of the right-hand angle section 2′ extends into theguide opening of the guide bead 43 of the left-hand angle section 2.

[0082] During the installation, the two angle sections 2, 2′ are slidtogether by means of the guide tongues and installed as a unit. In thisprocess, an free-standing pressing block placed against the inside ofthe web formed by the two vertical angle sections 2, 2′ at the placewhere the spike is, after which the hammer or pressing tool carries outthe installation. The assembly work can be carried out equally welleither from the left or from the right. After an angle section 2, 2′ ispressed into place, the second angle plate is attached to the substrate13, for example, with a screw 12. Then the next board is placed on thefree spike and hammered or pressed into place. Now this procedure isrepeated.

[0083] If, for example, the board shrinks, then the guide elements shiftrelative to each other, that is to say, the guide tongues slide in theguide segments or guide beads. The vertical legs of the angle sectionsremain securely joined to the boards as a result of the hammered-inspikes and of their pull-out resistance. FIG. 23 also shows that thedistance of the boards from each other and to the substrate can beadjusted to the required dimension by means of the thickness of thematerial and of the shaped-in beads.

Commercial Applicability

[0084] The subject matter of the invention can be used commercially inthe construction industry to join wooden building components to eachother and to a substrate, particularly boards used to cover balconiesand decks outdoors, or beams.

List of Reference Numerals

[0085]1 fixing bracket, first embodiment

[0086]2, 2′ L-sections

[0087]3, 3′ vertical leg

[0088]4 weld seam

[0089]5 web

[0090]6, 6′ spike, horizontal

[0091]7, 7′ spike, vertical

[0092]8, 8′ angle flange

[0093]9, 9′ fixing hole

[0094]10 symmetry point

[0095]11 boards

[0096]12 screws

[0097]13 substrate

[0098]14

[0099]15 fixing bracket, second embodiment

[0100]16 back

[0101]17 cut edges

[0102]17′ cut surface/cut flank

[0103]18 fixing bracket, third embodiment

[0104]19 metal blank

[0105]20 fixing bracket, fourth embodiment

[0106]21 bead

[0107]22 bead

[0108]23 web head

[0109]24 web foot

[0110]25 spike foot

[0111]26 wide web head

[0112]27 metal thickness

[0113]28, 28′ support beads

[0114]29 channel

[0115]30 blade strip

[0116]31, 31′ recess

[0117]32 . . .

[0118]33 spike tip

[0119]34 ramp-like sliding surfaces

[0120]35 fixing bracket, fifth embodiment

[0121]36 web foot opening

[0122]37 insertion opening

[0123]38 driving tool

[0124]39 mandrel

[0125]40 recess

[0126] . . .

[0127]42 fixing bracket, fifth embodiment

[0128]43 guide bead

[0129]44 guide tongue

[0130]45 guide segment

[0131]46, 46′ fixing hole

[0132]47, 47′ notch/bulge

1. A fixing bracket for joining wooden building components to each other and to a substrate, particularly for joining boards used to cover balconies and decks, preferably outdoors, said bracket having a vertical web (5), at least one tongue-shaped pointed spike (6, 6′, 7, 7′) projecting perpendicularly/horizontally at the top to both sides of the web, angle flanges (8, 8′) projecting perpendicularly/horizontally at the bottom to both sides of the web, characterized in that the fixing bracket (1, 15, 18, 20, 35, 42) is a double angle consisting of two combined L-sections (2, 2′), the web (5) is a double web consisting of two section legs (3, 3′), and at least one fixing hole (9, 9′) is provided in at least one of the angle flanges (8, 8′).
 2. The fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that the two L-sections (2, 2′) of the bracket (1 ) are joined together with their vertical section legs (3, 3′) lying flat against each other to form a prone T-section by means of welding, riveting or joining techniques.
 3. The fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that the bracket (15, 18, 20, 35) is made as a T-section from a continuous metal strip by means of bending techniques.
 4. The fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that the tongue-shaped spikes (6, 6′, 7, 7′) are arranged near the upper end of the web and are cut out of the web wall (3, 3′) and bent out perpendicularly to said wall.
 5. The fixing bracket according to claim 4, characterized in that there is a spike (6, 6′ or 7, 7′) on each web side, whereby these spikes are each arranged centered or offset from the center (10) relative to the lengthwise extension of the web (5), that is to say, they are arranged mid-point symmetrically.
 6. The fixing bracket according to claim 4, characterized in that the spikes (6, 6′, 7, 7′) are cut out of the web walls (3, 3′) horizontally or vertically, i.e. parallel or perpendicular relative to the angle flanges (8, 8′).
 7. The fixing bracket according to claim 4, characterized in that the spikes (6, 6′, 7, 7′) are curved so as to be gutter-shaped or arch-shaped, also at the spike foot (25), tapering towards the tip (33), similar to a straight bird beak, with a smaller radius at the tip (33), whereby the side edges and cut edges (17) or each of the cut surfaces (17′) that lie in-between undergo a spatial curving or twisting relative to the vertical, from about 45° at the spike foot to 0° at the spike tip (33).
 8. The fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that there is a crosswise bulge in the form of beads (21, 22) at the upper outer part of the double web (5), running on both sides in the lengthwise direction, said beads together forming a hollow double bead and thus forming a web head (23) from which the spikes (6, 6′, 7, 7′) protrude.
 9. The fixing bracket according to claim 8, characterized in that, at a material thickness of approximately 1.5 mm, the width (26) of the web head (23) is at least 5 mm.
 10. The fixing bracket according to claim 8, characterized in that the web foot (24) is closed, i.e. the web metal pieces lie against each other or else it is open, that is to say, the metal pieces are at a distance from each other with an opening (36) of at least 0.5 mm, thus forming an open web foot.
 11. The fixing bracket according to claim 10, characterized in that the spikes (7, 7′), at least the spike feet (25), are arranged on the web head (23) and, on the wall opposite from the wall of the web head that bears the spike, there is an opening (37) through which a driving tool (38) can be inserted.
 12. The fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that the width of the angle flanges (8, 8′) is greater than the length of the spikes (6, 6′, 7, 7′), preferably about twice as long.
 13. The fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle flanges (8, 8′) are the same length as the double web (5) or only half the length of the double web, whereby the two half flanges are arranged with respect to each other so as to be offset by half of the length of the web, but alternately projecting, in mid-point symmetry.
 14. The fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that, on the angle flanges (8, 8′), there is at least one elevation in the form of a support bead (28) that runs crosswise or in the direction of the widthwise extension extending upwards in the direction of the spikes, whereby the beads can have an arched, roof-like or U-shaped cross section.
 15. The fixing bracket according to claim 14, characterized in that, on each angle flange (8, 8′), there are two support beads (28) spaced parallel to each other and there is a fixing hole (9, 9′) in the middle between them.
 16. The fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that, the fixing hole (9, 9′) is conically countersunk in order to at least partially accommodate the conical head of a countersunk screw (12) and the countersinking angle is greater than the angle of the screw head.
 17. The fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that, the fixing holes (9, 9′) are oblong holes extending in the crosswise direction.
 18. The fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that, on the lengthwise sides of the angle flanges (8, 8′), there are ramp-like sliding surfaces (34) that also encompass the corresponding ends of the beads (28).
 19. The fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one claw-like blade strip (30) that projects downwards has been shaped into or bent out of the angle flanges (8, 8′).
 20. The fixing bracket according to claim 19, characterized in that the blade strips (30) are provided on both side edges of the angle flanges (8, 8′), whereby they are present at least on the front end, and over a length of at least one-sixth the width of the flange.
 21. The fixing bracket according to claim 19, characterized in that, in each case in the middle zone of the angle flanges (8, 8′), there is an essentially U-shaped rectangular recess (31) that has a depth of about ¼ the flange width, whereby the side edges running in the crosswise extension of the flanges are bent out downwards in the form of claw-shaped blade strips (30).
 22. The fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that the bracket (42) consists of two individual loose L-sections (2, 2′) that can be put together or joined to each other to form a bracket unit in such a way that, through a positive fitting engagement of the sections with each other, at least a slight crosswise shifting of the two sections is possible relative to each other, but not in the lengthwise direction.
 23. The fixing bracket according to claim 22, characterized in that, in order to achieve the positive fitting engagement of the two bracket sections (2, 2′), they are provided with crosswise guide elements (43, 44, 45) consisting, on the one hand, of a guide tongue (44) projecting from the web (3, 3′) and, on the other hand, of a guide opening (43 or 45) in alignment with the former and provided in the opposite section.
 24. The fixing bracket according to claim 22, characterized in that the guide tongues (44) are cut out of the section web (3, 3′) and they are rectangles configured so as to project perpendicularly to said web and, at the same time, to be in alignment with the angle flanges, while the guide openings are either cutouts (45) or guide beads (43) that pass correspondingly crosswise through the webs and extend into the angle flanges.
 25. The fixing bracket according to claim 23 and at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spike (7, 7′) provided on each section (2, 2′) is centered on the section leg while the guide means are provided correspondingly off-center.
 26. The fixing bracket according to claim 24, characterized in that, in the board support surfaces of the angle flanges (8, 8′) or beads (43, 45), there is at least one vertically upright bulge or notch (47, 47′) projecting upwards like a cleat, whereby the latter has a slant in the direction of the web or its top is parallel to the flange or bead surface and its bottom widens conically in the same direction. 